Warm Up Your Tracks with this Fat-Sounding Front End!

What do you get when you combine a VCA-based compressor, a tube preamplifier, and a three-band parametric EQ? You get the PreSonus Studio Channel, a multi-functional tube-based microphone preamp/channel strip ideal for all types of mics and instruments. Designed to make any sound source pop (in the good way), the Studio Channel enhances signal paths with the desirable warmth and fatness associated with vacuum tubes.

Big Tube Warmth for Small Studios

The slim Studio Channel mic pre has everything needed to deliver high headroom and big tone. The preamplifier stage of the Studio Channel features a high-output 12AX7 vacuum tube operating on voltages twice as high as other preamps of its type, according to PreSonus. Dual control Gain and Tube Drive facilitate an extensive range of sounds spanning from crystal clear to edgy and overdriven.

Tone-Shaping VCA Compressor

Thanks to the compressor, the Studio Channel is able to impart dimension and musicality to any track. Available as a fully variable, fast and smooth VCA-based circuit, the Studio Channel's compressor sports all the essential controls needed for a wide range of compression settings, such as ratio, threshold, attack, release, and gain make up. Tame even the fastest transients and get complete dynamic control over everything from percussion to vocals to acoustic guitars.

3-Band EQ When You Need It

The mic preamp's bypassable three-band equalizer lets you shape your sound further, right on the front end. The PreSonus Studio Channel's fully parametric EQ section gives you 10 dB of gain/cut on highs, mids and lows. What's more, the mid band of the EQ section has variable resonance (Q) for controlling the width around the center point of the selected frequency, and high and low frequency bands are there for selecting peak/dip or shelving frequencies.

PreSonus Studio Channel Tube Mic Preamp

The Studio Channel is a professional channel strip combining Class A tube preamplifier, VCA-based compressor and three-band parametric equalizer perfect for the professional and project studio. Great for all types of microphones, instruments, keyboards and synths, the Studio Channel has the sonic power and flexibility to achieve any tone you can dream of - luscious in your face vocals, crystal clear acoustic guitars, fat solid bass guitar, dynamic acoustic piano, cracking snare, punchy bass, huge MPC tracks and more.

Enhance your signal path

The Studio Channel noticeably outperforms preamplifiers that are built-in to most recording interfaces and affordable mixers. Add a VCA-based compressor and studio-grade equalizer to the class A tube preamp and you get not only big fat tube tonality but also complete control of your tone and sounds. Since much of the recording process is accomplished one track at a time, you need a signal path that can deliver a variety of high quality tones and sounds, which is why the Studio Channel is the perfect tool for any studio.

Class A Tube Preamplifier

The Studio Channel has everything needed to deliver big tone. The preamplifier stage of the Studio Channel is based on the award winning BlueTube preamplifier with a high output 12AX7 vacuum tube operating on voltages double than all other preamplifiers in its class delivering high headroom and big tone. Dual control Gain and Tube Drive enables a wide range of sounds from transparent and clear to edgy and overdriven.

Full Featured VCA Compressor

The compressor in the Studio Channel is a fully variable ultra-fast and smooth VCA-based circuit with all of the controls needed for a wide range of compression settings: ratio, threshold, attack, release and gain make up. The VCA-based compressor is known for musicality as well as ultra-fast attack with the ability to tame the fastest transients. From slap bass, to snare drum, to vocals, the Studio Channel's compressor stage allows you to record as hot as needed without clipping giving you total dynamic control.

Three Band Parametric EQ

The equalizer in the Studio Channel is like a Swiss Army pocket knife, with the ability to carve out unwanted frequencies as well as tailor your tone to enhance your sound. The custom-designed amplifiers in the EQ deliver sweet-sounding gain/cut for ultra-smooth highs, deep solid lows and clear midrange. The mid-band of the EQ section has variable Q for controlling the width around the center point of the selected frequency. High and low frequency bands give you the option for selecting peak/dip or shelving frequencies.

Sound:
With this mic-pre,my vocals are HUGE!The compressor does a great job taming my very loud and beefy vocal style.I also love the flexibility of the compressor.EQ works well on the voice,but i'm still working with it on acoustic guitar.(i probably should change my strings) Anyway,great product and with the pricetag @ around $300.....it's a steal.
Feature:
The features on this baby are awesome.I love the soft-knee option and gain make-up on the compressor and the shelving/peak-dip on the EQ.The preamp has some handy features as well.
Ease of Use:
This is my first piece of front-end gear and it was very easy to figure out.
Quality:
I accidently dropped it when taking it out of the box and it's worked fine ever since. Well built.
Value:
Great buy!
Manufacturer Support:
Had questions about product when first purchased.Technician was very helpful and friendly.
The Wow Factor:
It does look cool mounted below my multi-tracker.The VU meter is classic,but I needed everything this unit had to offer for quality sounding recordings and it has and does still deliver.
Overall:
I was recording straight into my 8-track recorder using a large-d condenser(vocals and acoustic guitar)I had no mic-pre or control of dynamics other than fader riding.I was getting very decent results,but now with the studio channel I'm getting great results.This unit will bring your home recordings to the next level.

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"Blown away!!!"

Overall:
I'm a singer/songwriter and just finished my debut LP with a new record label in LA. I am a 'Showtime At The Apollo' winner and have sang for as many as 100,000 people. I take vocal 'sound' very seriously, especially in my own writing and recording.
I wasn't able to get a good vocal sound out of my gear easily. Often times some vocal takes would distort because I was using built in Mic Preamps. Then I read the reviews on the Presonus Studio Channel Tube Mic Preamp and decided all of those great reviews couldn't be wrong. Boy, was I rewarded! This thing has changed everything for me in my home recordings. I just set it up for vocals according to the specification recommendations of the manufacturer and gave it a try. Unbelievable! No distortion, clear, warm, and simple. Exactly as advertised. Don't even think about buying another mic pre for your home studio or for your studio. This thing ROCKS! Guaranteed!!!
And thanks to the folks at Zzounds.com for making purchases easy.

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